Golf Swings According to Percy (Part 2)

The only shots in golf which I have been unable to play or to teach as sections of the fundamental "in-to-out" golf swing are certain shots
which call for cut pulled under and across the ball.

But for ninety-nine out of every hundred shots a golfer must play, the swing is the movement necessary. So to clear the ground I will list what I consider to be the essentials of the swing it is essential to:

turn the body round to the right and then back and round to the left, without moving either way. In other words this turning movement must be from a fixed pivot;

keep the arms at full stretch throughout the swingthrough the back swing, the down swing, and the follow through;

allow the wrists to break fully back at the top of the swing;

delay the actual hitting of the ball until as late in the swing as possible;

not to tighten any muscle concerned in the reactive part of the swing (movement above the waist). {Editor's Note: This point is in direct contradiction with Joe Dante's analysis of a good golf swing. Dante explain's in his book that being relaxed is actually detrimental to your game. You can find this discussion in the unabridged (complete) version of Four Magic Moves to Winning Golf}; and

feel and control the swing as a whole and not to concentrate upon any part of it.

In a sense this last point is the most vital. The swing must be considered and felt as a single unity, not as a succession of positions or even a succession of movements. The swing is one and indivisible.